EV Zug of the Swiss Hockey League has signed former Canadiens centre Glen Metropolit to a one year contract with an option for a second season.
Metropolit played 85 games with the Canadiens over one-plus seasons scoring 31 points. He played with HC Lugano of the Swiss league in the 2005-06 season and won the league scoring championship.
The replacement for Guy Boucher? The rumour mill drums have been banging out a list of candidates for the job. The names we’re hearing most are, from the QMJHL, Rouyn-Noranda head coach and GM Andre Tourigny; Gatineau coach Benoit Groulx, perennial candidate Patrick Roy and Montreal Juniors coach and GM Pascal Vincent. The most mentioned English speaking candidates are Canadiens assistant Kirk Muller and coach of the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones Chuck Weber.
Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier, issued the following statement
“The Montreal Canadiens wish to thank Guy Boucher for his commitment to the organization. His dedication was a key factor to the success of the Hamilton Bulldogs during the 2009-10 season, and to the development of our prospects. We wish Guy the best of luck with the Lightning”, said general manager Pierre Gauthier.
Hamilton coach Guy Boucher is going to be head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning next season according to Martin Leclair of ruefrontenac.com, the website manned by striking members of the Journal de Montreal. New Tampa general manager Steve Yzerman will make it official at a news conference tomorrow.
The Columbus Dispatch reports today that Guy Boucher has turned down the offer of the head coaching job with the Blue Jackets.
Hamilton Bulldogs head coach Guy Boucher missed the first part of the Canadiens development camp to take care of “personal business”. That business was apparently meeting with Columbus Bluejackets majority owner John P. McConnell, president Mike Priest and general manager Scott Howson. to discuss his candidacy for the team’s head coaching position.
Must have been a good meeting. Today in Columbus it’s being reported that the Bluejackets have offered him the job. Now it’s up to Boucher to decide whether he’s ready to make the jump to the NHL. If he does, Boucher would, at 38, become the youngest coach in the league.
Hamilton Bulldogs head coach Guy Boucher has been rumoured in line for the head coaching job with the Columbus Blue Jackets. So far, only deafening silence in Columbus as their GM Scott Howson continues to review his options.
Guy Boucher has his Hamilton Bulldogs one win away from competing in the final series for the Calder Cup. His success with the Canadiens top farm team has much of the hockey world mentioning his name. He’s under contract to the Canadiens and is not available for job interviews until the Bulldogs season ends, which could be as late as mid June. It hasn’t stopped his name from coming up. And team mentioned most is the Columbus Blue Jackets, who fired Ken Hitchcock in early February.
In his first year in professional hockey, coach Guy Boucher has the Hamilton Bulldogs carrying a 2-0 lead in the Calder Cup semi-finals going into game three Wednesday. His success, which includes a very solid dossier in junior hockey, is attracting attention. He is reportedly on the shortlist to fill the vacant head coaching position with the Columbus Bluejackets.
